The Mid-Atlantic archivist.

32 Pages·2002·2.4 MB·English

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ISSN 0738-9396
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Scholarship Winners Announced
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Plan for Poughkeepsie
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Cover image:
Vassar Collegestudents celebrate theDaisy Chain tradition in 1905. Vassaris locatedin Poughkeepsie, NY,
siteoftheFall2002jointMARAC/NEA meeting.
Photo courtesyofVassar College Libraries, ArchivesandSpecialCollections.
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XXXI/2
Table Of Contents
2 From the Chair
—
3 Steering Committee Summary Spring 2002
5 Treasurer's Report
6 Disaster at Niagara Falls: Love Canal
8 Historic Chester County African-American Records Inventory Completed
9 Welcome New Members!
1 1 Atomic Bomb Casualty Commission Collection at the National Academy ofSciences
12 Meet Your Caucus Representatives!
13 State and Local News
MARAC
18 2002 Election Results
21 Online History Exhibits at the American Association for the Advancement of
Science Archives
—
23 Business Meeting Minutes Spring 2002
24 Towson Meeting a Great Success
25 The University ofVirginia Claude Moore Health Sciences Library Opens the
Philip S. Hench Walter Reed Yellow Fever Collection Website
26 Join Us for a Joint MARAC/NEA Meeting!
28 Preservation News
MARAC
29 Scholarship Winners
Advertisers
C2 Ocker & Trapp Library Bindery, Inc.
10 Archival Products
Thefollowingadvertisers were honoredvendors
atMARAC's Spring2002 meeting in Towson:
9 Hollinger
IMR
1 1
&
22 Bono Film Video, Inc.
27 Conservation Resources
29 Document Reprocessors
1 <3§g>
MARAC
From the Chair
I would like tocongratulate the Spring posalto amendtheMARAC no morethan fifteen (15) days afterthe
2002 Program Committee, co-chaired Constitution,Article 6, toprovide conclusion ofthe Business Meeting. . .
by Danna Bell-Russel andSusan thatthe Conferencemayholdupto A majorityofthevotescastshall be
McElrath, and the LocalArrangements 2 meetings ayear. binding."Accordingto theschedule, a
Committee, co-chaired by Margaret mailingwillbesent to the membership
Burn and MaryMannix, fortheircon- CurrendytheConstitution reads: (probably includedwith theannual
tributions to theoutstandingmeeting "Article6:The Conferenceshall hold dues noticelaterthissummer), and the
held inTowson inApril. I amcontinu- two (2) meetings ayearforthepur- issuewill bediscussedat the Fall
allyamazed anddelighted bythe poseofprovidingaprogram of Business Meetingin Poughkeepsie.
commitmentanddiligence exhibited interestto membersand to transact Afterthemeeting, aballotwill be
byall thecommittee members who business. Special meetings forany mailedoutand membersaskedtovote.
help producesuch livelyand instructive purpose maybe calledbythe
meetings. SteeringCommitteeoratthewritten Therearegoodarguments, both pro
andcon, forholdingeitheroneortwo
Thisleads metoasubjectofsomecon- requestofone-fourth (1/4) ofthe
sequence. Forsometime, the Steering members ofthe Conference." meetingsayear, and 1 hope the next
issueoftheMid-AtlanticArchivistwill
Committee hasengaged in recurring
debates aboutthemeritsofholding Recommendedchange: "Article6: featureadialogwhichwill allowmem-
two conference meetings ayear.While The Conference mayhold up totwo bers to bebetter informedon the issue
thesediscussionshavebeen instructive, (2) meetings ayearforthepurpose before thediscussion atthe Business
andsometimesentertaining, no clear ofprovidingaprogramofinterestto Meeting. Since theproposedamend-
resolution ofthe matterhasemerged. membersandtotransactbusiness." menthas thepotential toseriously
Somedatafrom the recentmember- (Italics inserted. Secondsentence changethewayMARAC conducts its
shipsurvey (seeMid-AtlanticArchivist, remainsthesame). business, itis important that theentire
volume31, no. 2, Spring2002) seems membership let itsvoicebe heard. I
to indicateapreference forholding Theprocess is nowin motion. shouldemphasize thatthis isnota
onlyonemeetingayear. However, AccordingtoArticle8 oftheMARAC quick process. No matterwhat the
such achangerequiresan amendment Constitution, amendments "shall be outcome, MARAC will have two
MARAC
to the Constitution. Atthe proposedbytwenty-five (25) members meetings through at least 2004 due
Towson meeting, and in accordance inwritingto the Secretary. Proposed to current contract commitments.
with theproceduresdelineated in the amendmentsshall bemailedto the
Constitution, anenterprisinggroupof I am interested in hearingwhat
27MARAC memberssignedandpre- membership atleast thirty(30) days members think about this and other
beforeabusiness meetingin orderto
sented the followingpetition to the issues, and howwe can better con-
bediscussedat the BusinessMeeting.
Secretary: duct our business. Please feel free to
Afterbeingdiscussedat the Business email or telephone me ifyou have
We, the undersigned, requestthat Meeting, aproposedamendmentshall
any comments or questions.
theSteeringCommitteeplacebefore bevotedonbymail ballotofthefull
themembership thefollowingpro- membership.The ballotshall be mailed JeffFlannery
2
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XXXI/2
—
Steering Committee Summary Spring 2002
April17, 2002, Sheraton Baltimore are Alison Oswald (MARAC) and vendors and exhibitors for the next
MD
North Hotel, Towson, BarbaraAusten (NEA), and two years.
Christine Crawford-Oppenheimer
The meeting was called to ordet at and Brian Keough are Local RebeccaJohnson Melvin has been
5:35pm. The minutes for the Winter Arrangements Committee Co- setting up procedures and guidelines
2002 meeting were approved. Chairs. There will be 16 sessions for getting the conference program
CHAIR focusing on topics such as creating printed. She will work as Program
an archives web page, manuscripts in Editor through the Poughkeepsie
The new Secretary,Treasurer, and public libraries, and security in meeting and be "on-call" forTrenton.
Caucus Representatives were intro- archival institutions. EdwardTenner Charles Greifenstein has been
duced. Outgoing officers and Caucus will be the luncheon speaker. The approached to potentially be the next
Representatives were thanked for budget was presented and approved. editor.
theiryears ofservice. TheAd-Hoc
Committee on Administrative Through the persistent efforts ofBen There was extended discussion on
Primer and much intervention by the manner in which the proposal to
Services Report was discussed. Costs
Karl Niederer, MARAC has a hotel limit conferences to one peryear
eidn.voIltvweadsindetchiedecodntthraatctmweemrbeeervaluat- contact for the Spring 2003 meeting should be presented. A constitutional
services need to be improved, and (Trenton, NJ, April 24-26). We will change would have to be brought
that the Ad-Hoc Committee should be meeting at the new Lafayette Yard forward from the membership in the
Marriott Conference Hotel. Ben and form ofa proposal submitted to the
create a back-up plan ifcontract
services can no longer be afforded. Karl have agreed to be Local Steering Committee by at least 25
Arrangements Co-Chairs, and Gary active members. Lisa Mangiafico and
The Guiliani testimony on April 5 Saretzky andAlex Magoun will be John LeGloahec have agreed to dis-
was reported (see Mid-Atlantic the Program Committee Co-Chairs. cuss this at the caucus meetings.
Archivistvol. 31, no. 2, Spring TREASURER
2002). A letter protesting the elimi- For the Fall 2003 meeting
nation ofthe NewYork State Office (Gettysburg, PA, October 29- Second Quarter income came from
ofCultural Education was discussed. November 1), ChristineAmadure
membership dues, bank interest,
There was a report on a meeting on and PamelaWhitenackwill serve as
February 20 with University of Local Arrangements Co-Chairs and mailing list purchase, contributions
to the Education Fund, and Spring
Maryland CIS Alumni to discuss a Jim Gerencser and Karen Drickamer
Continuing Education opportunity. will be the Program Co-Chairs. 2in0c0l2udreedgiKst&raAtiomnafneaesg.eEmxepnetnsfeeses,
VICE CHAIRAND MEETINGS We are still looking at Silver Spring, Spring 2002 postage and program
MD NCCPH DC
COORDINATING COMMITTEE as a site for the Spring 2004 expenses, annual dues,
(MCC) meeting. Danna Bell-Russel has been franchise tax and payment ofsales
working on securing a hotel in the tax collected to VA, tax accountant
The program for the Spring 2002 area. fees, Steering Committee reimburse-
meeting (Towson, MD) was put ments, cost ofinternet domain,
together by Danna Bell-Russel, Susan Debbie Rougeux, Co-Chair for the stipend to MARAC Archives, and
McElrath and their committee. The Local Arrangements Committee for the MARAC MAI scholarship. There
Local Arrangements Committee, co- the Fall 2004 meeting (Pittsburgh, was a deduction from Education
chaired by Mary Mannix and PA) has started looking at hotels. Fund contributions for the hiring of
Margaret Burri, outdid themselves. Valerie Metzler has agreed to be Jerry Cannizzaro ($150) after the
Mary Rephlo andTom Connors, Program Committee Co-Chair along contract was signed.
leading the efforts ofthe Education withJackie Esposito.
Committee, once again provided The latest figures for the Spring 2002
great workshops. The exhibitors/vendors coordinating meetingwere presented. The budget
task has not been a smooth transition for the Fall 2002 meeting in
The joint MARAC/NEA meeting in from conference to conference.
Fall 2002 (Poughkeepsie, NY, Fortunately Mary Mannix has agreed
October 23-26) Program Co-Chairs to take the lead and work with the see STEERING COMMITTEE on page 4
)
^
MARAC
STEERING COMMITTEE from page 3 was discussed. Tom Connors Brochure supplies have dwindled,
announced that he would relinquish and with a new URL for the
Poughkeepsie was presented. The his role as Chair ofthis committee. MARAC web site, and a new address
Finance Committee will send its rec- Education Committee for the administrators, there will be a
ommendation to the Steering reprint ofthe brochures in the next
Committee, who will vote on the WithTom Connors serving as lead, month or two.
budget. the Education Committee developed The Membership Committee would
The check/database set-up at K&A is waowriknsnhionpgssfcohredthueleToofwsthorneemefeutlli-ndga.y sliukrevetyo pinurtshueedhuaevsinrgenaenwoatlhenortischeo.rt
waonrdkrienggisftariartliyonwesltla.tiWsetieckslhyavpeacakrertisved Asystem for verification ofworkshop wTehegoStfeoerrirnegalCdoemmmoigtrtaepehiscugignefsotremda-
smoothly during the past fourweeks. participation was discussed, and an e- tion. The Committee will discuss a
mail confirmation notice proposed.
Becky Collier thanked the members variety ofquestions at their meeting
ofthe Finance Committee and the Teresa Mora is takingthe leadworking in Towson. Jim Stimpert, who
Steering Committee for their faithful with theNEA Education Committee worked on last year's survey, has
service to MARAC during her three to planworkshops for the Fall 2002 offered his services again this year.
MARAC meeting in Poughkeepsie. Tentatively,
terms as Treasurer. John FindingAids
LeGloahec was welcomed as the new fourworkshops are planned: 1
incomingTreasurer. "Arrangement and Description" by On March 18, 2002, the Finding
Bruce Stark, 2) "Disaster Planning" by Aids Award Committee met at
ADMINISTRATOR Beth Patkus, 3) "Development" by Rutgers University Library to deter-
Julie Bressor, and4) "Grants" byDan mine the 2001 award winners.
Current membership is 914 Regular Stokes from NHPRC. MARACwill Twenty-one submissions were
Members and 85 Student/Retired be responsible forcoordinating the received, and the candidates were
Members. State Caucus memberships first 3 oftheseworkshops. divided into two categories: finding
are as follows: DC-186; DE-30; aids for a single collection and find-
Bob Sink has agreed to take the lead
MD-146; NJ-123; NY-238; PA-201; ing aids for multiple collections. The
on development ofthe workshops for
VA-139; WV-13. Please note that winners are:
theTrenton meeting in Spring 2003.
some members belong to more than
Single Collection Guide: First Place:
one caucus, so total membership The Committee selected the follow-
numbers will not match up with ing persons for MARAC WCiarlnleigaimeSCtoirngpoonrea,ti"oGnuiodfeNteowthYeork
state caucus numbers. scholarships: For the Leonard Records," Rare Book & Manuscript
Rapport Modern Archives Institute
ARCHIVIST Library, Columbia University;
Scholarship, June 2002: Leslie Hunt,
Second Place: Brett M. Reigh and
Historical Society ofPennsylvania;
The MARAC Archives sitewas hon- Patrick Henry Shea, "Guide to the
For meeting scholarships to attend
ored by a Februaryvisit by the theTowson meeting in Spring 2002: Coxe Family Mining Papers," The
current MARAC Chair, JefTFlannery. Jennifer Evans, NEH-funded project Historical Society ofPennsylvania;
TheArchivist has been working in a archivist at University ofMaryland, Third Place: Kristine Marconi
support capacity for the folks organ- and Katy Rawdon-Faucett, archivist McGee, "Guide to the Franklin Book
Programs Archives," Department of
izing the upcoming meeting in atThe Barnes Foundation; For a
Rare Books and Special Collections,
Poughkeepsie. Some reminder that workshop scholarship at the Spring Seely Mudd Manuscript Library,
Fall 2002 is the 30th anniversary of 2002 meeting in Towson: Nancy
MARAC Princeton University.
(a button or stickers, or Derevjanik, grant-funded project
some information in the registration archivist atJohns Hopkins Multiple Collection Guide: First
packets) will be prepared. University. All four ofthe recipients Place: Karen Huffman, "Guide to the
MARAC
expressed gratitude to for Washingtonian's Oral History
COMMITTEES
the support. Research Center's Collection,"
Washington, D.C. Community
Ad-HocDevelopment Membership Development
Archives, D.C. Public Library;
The proposed by-laws change vote Thirteen new members joined in
scheduled for the Business Meeting March. see STEERING COMMITTEE on page 10
s3S> 4 <3§5>
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XXXI/2
Treasurer's Report, Fiscal Year 2002
January 1, 2002-March 31, 2002
%
Category Budget 1stQuarter 2ndQuarter 3rdQuarter 4thQuarter Total ofBudget 2001 Actual
EVENUEANDSUPPORT
Membership Dues $37,000.00 $6,112.00 $1,785.00 $0.00 $0.00 $7,897.00 21% $36,207.00
PublicationsSales $500.00 $471.05 $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 $471.05 94% $814.46
Pub.Advertising $900.00 $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 0% $1,110.00
Bank Interest $3,400.00 $293.68 $254.23 $0.00 $0.00 $547.91 16% $3,328.65
Conferences $8,000.00 $19,704.61 $12,429.00 $0.00 $0.00 $32,133.61 402% $52,912.67
MailingListSales $100.00 $0.00 $40.00 $0.00 $0.00 $40.00 40% $150.00
Contributions $6,000.00 $277.00 $160.00 $0.00 $0.00 $437.00 7% $5,029.00
Miscellaneous $100.00 $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 0% $53.70
Total Revenue—Support $56,000.00 $26,858.34 $14,668.23 $0.00 $0.00 $41,526.57 74% $99,605.48
EXPENSES
General $1,300.00 $20.00 $804.12 $0.00 $0.00 $824.12 63% $1,680.50
Administrator $28,690.00 $6,690.37 $7,157.00 $0.00 $0.00 $13,847.37 48% $30,409.94
Treasurer $600.00 ($22.79) $746.07 $0.00 $0.00 $723.28 121% $3,668.08
StateCaucuses $688.00 $111.77 $68.96 $0.00 $0.00 $180.73 26% $89.02
Committees $3,110.00 $103.01 $647.84 $0.00 $0.00 $750.85 24% $1,912.24
Publications $16,300.00 $0.00 $139.45 $0.00 $0.00 $139.45 1% $16,097.46
MARACArchivist $400.00 $0.00 $400.00 $0.00 $0.00 $400.00 100% $0.00
Awards $800.00 $300.00 $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 $300.00 38% $700.00
ConferenceExpenses $0.00 $18,082.38 $3,564.15 $0.00 $0.00 $21,646.53 0% $28,712.27
MARACScholarship $4,112.00 $645.00 $845.00 $0.00 $0.00 $1,490.00 0% $0.00
Miscellaneous $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 0% $0.00
Total Expenses $56,000.00 $25,929.74 $14,372.59 $0.00 $0.00 $40,302.33 72% $83,269.51
NETINCOMEor(LOSS) $0.00 $928.60 $295.64 $0.00 $0.00 $1,224.24
SUMMARY- FIRSTQUARTERFY2002 FUND OPENING CREDITS DEBITS CLOSING
OpeningBalance $128,567.51 Operating $41,611.06 $14,508.23 ($13,527.59) $42,591.70
Income $14,668.23 Endowment $30,956.45 $160.00 ($845.00) $30,271.45
Expenses ($14,372.59) Reserve $56,000.00 $56,000.00
ClosingBalance $128,863.15 Totals $128,567.51 $14,668.23 ($14,372.59) $128,863.15
Cash Accounts
CheckingAccts.: $40,918.87
SavingsAccts.: $87,944.28
Cert,ofDeposit: $0.00
Total $128,863.15
s3£> 5
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MARAC
Disaster at Niagara Falls
Love Canal : Neighborhood Crisis, Worldwide Legacy
Thispaper wasgiven byKathleenM. NewYork State Department of we know it today. The Superfund,
DeLaneyaspartofthe "Chemical Health (NYSDOH) is conducting which provides for the clean-up or
Spills, Atomic Ills, and Twisters: follow-up studies ofthe 1978 blood remediation oftoxic waste, was legis-
DocumentingManmadeandNatural sera sample taken ofthe neighbor- lated as a direct result ofthe Love
Disasters"session attheMARAC hood residents. Everysix months, the Canal crisis. Among the most con-
NYSDOH
Fallmeetingin Richmond, VA, s Expert Health Advisory tentious dilemmas faced by residents
October, 2001 Committee travels to Niagara Falls to was the debate over who would buy
meet with former residents, report on their homes, who would pay for
In August 1978, the world watched their scientific progress, and elicit their relocation, and where they
while a small working class neigh- further public comment from the would go.
borhood in Niagara Falls, NewYork former canal residents.
dealt with an untenable toxic waste It took more than two years to iron
crisis. The Love Canal neighborhood Reproductive anomalies seem the out details, but by 1981 the Love
was reeling from an emergencydec- most frequently observed effects of CanalArea Revitalization Agency
laration by then NewYork State canal residency. However, it remains (LCARA) was formed. LCARA, a
Health Commissioner, Dr. Robert uncertain whether these are environ- type offederal/state development
Whalen. His expert opinion led him mental or genetic dispositions or as agency, was charged with purchasing
to advise pregnant women as well as one resident puts it, "bad luck." The and rehabilitating homes and the
children two and younger to imme- follow-up studies are attempting to neighborhood ofthe Love Canal
diately evacuate their homes. Within trace progress ofthe health effects of Emergency Declaration Area (EDA).
a few days, PresidentJimmy Carter the children born ofLove Canal,
issued a national emergency declara- most ofwhom range in age from late The homes in what was called the
tion ofthe former site ofa 16-acre 20s-30s. At a 1999 Advisory meet- "first ring" that bordered the Canal
landfill where the 99th Street School ing held in Niagara Falls, three were demolished in 1979. They are
sat directly on top of21,800 tons of residents reported the death ofa literally buried under the 16-acre
chemicals. More than twentyyears spouse from heart disease. By May containment area ofthe former
later, Love Canal remains synony- 2001, serious health problems canal. A chain-link fence still sur-
mous with the environmental included rare cancers, emphysema, rounds the property that continues
movement, and continues to provide asthma, kidney disease, enlarged thy- to be monitored by asubsidiary of
impetus for dramatic changes in atti- roids, as well as multiple miscarriages Occidental Chemical Corp.
tude toward environmental concerns, and stillbirths. Many ofthe newly Sidewalks, remnants ofdriveways,
issues or public health, and law discovered ailments were reported as footprints ofdemolished homes and
worldwide. affecting offspring ofLove Canal
gardens stand as reminders ofthe
children.
neighborhood that was.
Whenever the question ofwhat hap-
pened at Love Canal arises, no one What HappenedAfter the LCARA ceased operation in August
has the same answer. Alan Mazur's Declaration
2000, and transferred its records to
r(TeHhcaeernRvtaabrsodhooUkmn,oivnAerEHsfafieztcaytrPodrfoeuLssosvIen1qC9ua9i8nr)ay,l: Arattitohnes,tinmoegoofvethrenmeemnetraglenagceyndceycla- tLhCeARCiAt'ysolfasNtiaacgtairoansFawllass. tOhneetroafnsfer
explores the idea that for e:very per- could orwould take responsibility ofproperty ofanother neighborhood
son or organization involved in the for the Canal homeowners' predica- school, the 93rd Street School. Long
ment. Although Commissioner closed, it stood about a quarter mile
crisis, each has an interpretation of
the facts that carryvalidity, although Whalen recommended the removal from the containment site, andwas
the facts cannot be agreed upon. ofpregnant women and children finally razed in Spring 2000. The
under two, there was no plan to pro- City ofNiagara Falls Little League
Health Effects ofLove Canal vide funding for the evacuation. purchased the property for recre-
ational purposes. Much ofthe
Health issues remain apoint ofcon- Governmental agencies such as the remaining "unsold" propertyat Love
tention and mysterywhere Love Environmental Protection Agency
Canal is concerned. Currently, the (EPA) did not yet exist in the form see LOVE CANAL on page 7
6
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XXXI/2
LOVE CANAL from page 6 Association, continues to assist The Niagara County Environmental
activists from the Center for Fund
Canal is considered brown field. Environmental Health andJustice in
Mixed-use commercial development Falls Church, VA. The Love Canal One ofthe more positive legacies of
Nisiabgeairnag cFaolnlss,idNerYedwhbiycthhehaCsitsyufoffered MLueedlilcaalKeFnunnedy,, aadcmainnciesrterreesdeabrycher LEonvvierCoannmaelntiaslthFeuNnidag(aNrCaECFo)unetstyab-
continual economic depression since whose child died ofa rare liver disor- lished as part ofthe Love Canal
the late 1970s. der directly linked to chemicals settlement between NewYork State
Somewouldsay theclosureofLCARA found at Love Canal, speaks for and and Occidental Chemical Corp. It
assists individuals whose lives have provides grants to "encourage,
is asymbolicsign that the nightmare been impacted by health disorders inspire and facilitate activities by vol-
ofLoveCanal has ended. Others
linked to Love Canal. unteers, organizations and
wouldsayit is a faileddream ofaban-
educational institutions to enhance
doned plans that leaves the people of Love Canal 2000 consists ofa bi-
and restore, maintain, care for and
Niagara Falls to pickup thepieces. partisan group offormer and current
provide access to Niagara County's
residents ofBlack CreekVillage,
Today at Love Canal environment and ecology, as well as
politicians, urban planners, and a
educate people ofall ages about the
In May 1997, the University at retired journalist whose beat for county's environment." Indeed, in
Buffalo received a donation of more than two decades included 2001 alone, more than 40 environ-
approximately 150 linear feet of Love Canal. Over the past two years, mental or ecology-related projects
records from the EcumenicalTask in part using grant funding, the were carried out in Niagara County
Force (ETF) ofthe Niagara Frontier. group conducted a feasibility study (NY) with the assistance ofthis $2.5
These comprise the bulk ofthe to establish an environmental educa- million fund. One ofthose projects
University's Love Canal Collection tional center in the Love Canal involved the joint efforts ofthe
(1979-1991) containing reports, neighborhood. Their goal includes University at Buffalo Archives and
depositions, news clippings, organi- creation ofa first-class model for the Niagara Falls Public Library.
zational papers, court decisions, environmental and ecology-related
correspondence, videos, and other curriculum, exhibit space, theatre For several years, the library and
materials. The collection contains and a resource center to highlight archives community ofwestern New
some rather eclectic documents, as the positive aspects ofLove Canal. York State recognized a need to assist
well as gray or fugitive literature, one They coordinate with the University with the location and identification
ofthe hallmarks ofgrass roots organ- at Buffalo Archives for documenta- ofresources for Love Canal research.
ization collections. It also contains tion and research to support the The NewYork State curriculum con-
extensive documentation related to effort; and to further direct students tains a component requiring students
toxic waste controversies associated and researchers to the primary docu- from 4th through 12th grades to
with the Love Canal and other toxic mentation related to Love Canal. respond to "document-based ques-
waste sites not only in Niagara Currently the project is on-hold for tions" for proficiency in social
County, NewYork, but throughout funding and appropriate zoning con- studies, science and the language
the United States, Canada, the for- siderations. arts, among others.
mer Soviet Union and India.
Selected documents can be viewed at Individuals such as formerVice These developments led members of
http://ublib.buffalo.edu/libraries/ PresidentAl Gore, Congressman Love Canal 2000 and the Executive
projects/lovecanal. After the death of John La Fake (D-NY), President Director ofthe Niagara Falls Public
Patricia Brown, former Love Canal Jimmy Carter, and US District Library to submit a proposal to the
resident and Executive Director of CourtJudgeJohn Curtin, who NCEF to locate and identify original
the ETF, the Archives accepted a gift presided over the numerous Love documents related to Love Canal,
ofher personal records related to the Canal-related suits and final deci- and develop a systematic inventory
disaster. sions, have made it their professional and survey ofLove Canal-related
and personal business avocation to documents. Plans for a second year
The passion offormer Love Canal follow the Love Canal crisis to con- offunding included compilation ofa
residents continues to direct their clusion. All ofthese men speak with searchable database to be linked to
lives and involvement in environ- passion ofhow this crisis affected the library's online catalog.
mental causes. Lois Gibbs, who led their lives and they continue to act
the Love Canal Homeowners for environmental justice. see LOVE CANAL on page 8
«=ss> 7 «ss&
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MARAC
Historic Chester County African-American Records Inventory Completed
The Chester County Historical from the late 18th century to the 225 North High Street in West
Society is pleased to announce the 20th century and include letters, Chester, Pennsylvania, the library is
completion ofa grant funded project diaries, pamphlets, newspaper clip- open Monday, Tuesday, Thursday,
to inventory, arrange, and describe pings, church records, and court Friday, and Saturday from 9:30 am
the historic Chester CountyAfrican- records. Many ofthe records relate to 4:30 pm and Wednesdays from
Acomlelrecitciaonn.rTehcoerdPseninnsiytlsvlainbiraary ctoomslmauvenriy,tycoaunndtysoacbioalliatcitoinviatciteisv,itainesd, 1:00 pm to 8:00 pm. For more
Historical and Museum Commission education. The Chester County information about these records and
(PHMC) funded project makes the Historical Society is a private, not- other library holdings please call
records, which are in many different for-profit institution dedicated to 610-692-4066 extension 220 orvisit
parts ofthe library collection, more preserving and making accessible the www.chestercohistorical.org.
easily available for public research history ofChester County and
use. Records in the collection date southeast Pennsylvania. Located at
LOVE CANAL from page 7 including video and film, meeting a large part ofLove Canal history.
minutes, real estate transfers, court The search for these records leads to
After careful consideration, one com- cases, and unpublished personal both unlikelystorage places: church
ponent oft—he project was papers or collections held in private basements, former residents' attics,
abandoned - the collection of custody. lawoffices and neighborhood coali-
tions, trunks ofcars, and because of
records for inclusion in a library at
The NewYork State Library and the subject matter, landfill offices.
the Love Canal Educational Center.
Ultimately, making these historic doc-
When it became apparent that the Aorfcshtiavteesdeaspsairsttmedenwtiatlhfiildeesn.tTifhiecaNtieonw uments accessible means abalanced
Centerwas at risk for approval, and .interpretation ofthe Love Canal dis-
York State Department ofHealth
that havingdocuments on site would aster.
and Department ofEnvironmental
increase buildingand operating costs,
Conservation also provided leads. Conclusion
the group turned to the University at
Many private collections governed by
Buffalo Archives, already a center for Long after the specific events ofthe
25-30 year restricted access policies
Love Canal scholarship. Making the Love Canal have been forgotten,
promised to send notification when
partnership much more attractive was there remains an underlying aware-
those restrictions were lifted. ness that what happened there
the realization that the University
Unfortunately, given the nature of shifted the winds ofenvironmental
had professional archivists, staffand many state and local government responsibility. The fragmented
secure conservation and preservation records, retention schedules deter- nature and spotty location ofthe
departments to accommodate docu- mined the destruction ofdocuments documents associated with the events
ments. With the aid ofUB'sArchives long ago without opportunity of ofLove Canal make research diffi-
assured, a grant was awarded. archival or historic designation. cult. However, resources already
documented and resources recently
A project archivist began the difficult Other original Love Canal records are identified by the Niagara Falls Public
work ofsearching for Love Canal increasingly in danger ofbeing Library and the University at Buffalo
documents. These included, but destroyed or lost. Much ofthesearch Archives all seek to provide under-
standing ofLove Canal as a
were not limited to, organizational fordocuments occurs awayfrom
watershed environmental event.
and government reports, public standard archives, historical societies,
information records, correspondence and government record offices. So- Kathleen M. DeLaney
(public and private), photographs, called "gray" and fugitive literature is State UniversityofNew YorkatBuffalo